Steal Images From The Web vs Using Images Ethically

These days just about everything you do on the Internet is illegal. If you're producing content, might want to brush up on your IP knowledge and make sure you're not stepping on someone's [intellectual property] toes.

Like all things legal, it can be complex but thanks to some clever designers. There is a road map you can use to make sure you keep yourself and/or the organization out of legal troubles.

The Rise And Reach Of #Mobile [Friendly] Websites

The other day I had lunch with a friend and I sent him a text message stating, ''I'll be running a bit late" for our lunch at a trendy Thai restaurant in Seattle [Thai is still big here]. When I arrived, he pulled out his phone which I'd have to say was a dinosaur of mobile technology.

I asked if he had received my text message and he said, "I don't do text messaging". 

Startled, I started to think how many other people out there who are holding back from upgrading to newer phones, mobile optimized websites and/or other progressive technologies essential in a modern era to communicate with their potential customers.

I'm sure you're wondering what's the connection between text messaging and mobile websites?

Actually, there isn't any connection at all but because my associate is such a throwback of a different time I started to think how many websites I've visited [on my phone] that were not optimized for the mobile web [extremely frustrating].

This is not a small business phenomenon.

In particular, many artists [performing artists] and various creative types don't see the benefit in mobile web optimization. However, in today's world, mobile web traffic is increasing exponentially and being a part of that mobile traffic is critical to the future of your business.

Doesn't matter if you're an interior decorator, performing artist or CEO, chances are the first place someone is going to view your personal bio, menu at the restaurant or music video is on a mobile device [tablet or smart phone]. Give yourself and your growing business a chance to succeed by making sure your website or blog is optimized for the mobile web.

#ContentCreation: Growing Your #YouTube Audience Is Hard

It's hard to fathom what it was like to get content on the airwaves back in the last millennium [19th century for those not familiar with that terminology].

Man went to the moon [it was televised] and the world was glued to their television sets [that's what they called them back then] as we watched in astonishment of mankind's lunar achievement.

The reality was that it was the biggest thing going on TV at the time [besides the Vietnam War]. In between that time and now, very few things have captured the world's imagination. The 70's and 80's were growing years for television and content was controlled by the major networks [ABC/NBC/CBS]. It was sitcom heaven, from All In the Family to CHIPS to Diff'Rent Strokes. 

Producers in New York and Los Angeles controlled the content you saw and you the viewer knew your place in time.

Prime Time...it was "Must See TV" on NBC.

Moving into the digital age and with the introduction of the Internet in the 90's, there was very little fanfare of its arrival. To compound this fact, the beta version of Windows 95 [code named Chicago] didn't even have a browser embedded in the OS. Eventually, it was embedded but was located in Accessories with Notepad [no where close to the desktop].

Clearly, Microsoft saw the Internet as an afterthought but ATandT seemed to have a different idea. BIG THINGS were coming down their information superhighway and you would be fascinated by all the technological goodness coming in the near future.



Not only do we have access to those technologies today but we have them in the palm of our hands at any given time. With the emergence of googols of Internet bandwidth, viral video is taking the place of antiquated 90's style content. The race has begun, the need for more content is staggering.

[fast forward to the present]

User generated content creation is the vernacular of day and YouTube is fuel by YOU. Who would have thought that YOU would be the new producers of the best content on the planet and a guy named Psy [remember him...the horse gallop guy?] would be the biggest global hit as we know it. A quirky 2-bit d-listed South Korean entertainer who had numerous failed albums but when he released Gangnam Style on YouTube, the rest is global viral video history.

If you have a YouTube channel or plan on starting one soon, its not just a matter of posting a video and watching the numbers grow like a ticker tape. There are many factors involved in achieving a satisfactory outcome you can feel proud of based on your objectives.



The key to growing your YouTube channel is through consistency much like writing a blog. It also helps when you have authenticated tools or organizations that specialize in helping you get your content out to your audience.

Growing your YouTube audience is hard but working with great people on a project you're passionate about is much more valuable than trying to achieve video hits. It's like the tortoise and the hare story, its just better to take things a little slower, learn the craft and you will be the winner in the end.

How to Use #Hashtags Properly [#Infographic]

#Failure And The Rules For #Success

If you're like most people, failure is not something you look forward to. Matter of fact, the only time we think of our failures is when we're forced to ponder those painful moments in the past and relive a not-so-great-moment in our history.

It is in our nature [as humans] to abhor failure and continually strive for success [whatever success means to you]. This simple concept is the backbone to the continuous progress of humanity.

Its been said that failure leads to success but I'm not so sure about that? If you've read anything on the topic of success, some say, "winning is a habit" and others "prolonged failure inevitably leads to success".

In my opinion, both philosophies apply because life happens and being prepared for the unexpected is what determines your failure or success. Creativity, flexibility and adaptability is necessary in life in order to navigate variables in our constantly changing world, which can lead to failure or success.

I've often used Steve Jobs videos in my posts because his life story represents both the worst in failure and best in success! In this short segment, Steve explains his take on the rules for success.



In most cases, failure means we failed to nurture a relationship in our lives, be it personal or professional and the key is to not repeat those same self-defeating habits that caused us or someone else pain. The hard part is identifying/recognizing your faults and having the will or desire to not repeat the cycle.

The best way to turn a failure into success is to not have a fear of failure or success. That may sound simple but investing in yourself with positive change is where you start. In our own minds, we know the issues that prevent us from succeeding, that's no secret. The hard part is consistently confronting your issues to where you learn to overcome what was once a failure and is now an overwhelming success.



In conclusion to this post, I wanted to bring things down-to-earth a bit and show you a story of a person who went through shocking failure and eventually found their way to achieve success. Recently, The LA Times did a story on a freshman college student by the name of Kashawn Campbell titled, "South LA student find a different world at Cal". In short, he didn't grow up in Bel-Air and he was not necessarily a fresh prince on campus but he did eventually find his on brand of success.

If they can do it...so can you!

@CausePub: Uniting #Storytellers For A Common Cause

Alan Moore [Author of V For Vendetta] wrote, "Artists Use Lies To Tell The Truth. Yes, I Created A Lie. But Because You Believed It, You Found Something True About Yourself". You've heard it many times before, doesn't matter if you're a writer, producer, singer or illustrator, we're all storytellers but how do you get your story told?

There's a new crowd source start up for storytellers to help you get published but in that process you can help others. I have no doubt that crowd sourcing will continue to be the way things get funded because it takes the guess work out of projects because the people have spoken [with walk and not just talk].

So if you're an aspiring author, writer, producer, screenwriter or even photographer. Consider different methods of being heard while at the same time increasing your network and reach with like minded individuals.

Do something for a just cause.

#Blogging And What It Means For Your Business [#Infographic]

#SteveJobs Talks About #Branding

An inconvenient truth about great pioneers in most fields is that people don't really hear them until they're gone. This notion frustrated Steve Jobs greatly. To a point where he was known for being a not-so-great-guy at times.

This affected his personal brand and may have been one of the many reasons why Apple almost became nonexistent in the late 80's.

Amongst being a great engineer, Steve was even better at knowing how to brand products. He knew his company [almost to a fault] and he knew that its products were not created for the ordinary user. The Apple brand was special, not just another computational device hitting a rapidly growing computer market. Apple was a company creating a unique brand of products for people creating extraordinary things.

Steve loved to teach. If you listened and exercised the knowledge he shared. The world would be yours. In this rare clip, Steve is giving a masterclass on branding. Looking back, we can all agree that Steve Jobs was a great mind and his legacy will continue to live on for generations.

A Short: History Of #Branding

Branding. Seems like we can never get away from it. Branding is in everything we do today. There's corporate branding, personal branding, even Nicki Minaj is worried about her brand.

Much has changed from the days when one brand sponsored a show and the family gathered around the television to enjoy their favorite variety show.

Now branding is everywhere and is an expected part of entertainment if you watch movies and reality shows from time to time.

Branding [as we know it] isn't going away anytime soon but as we evolve technologically, you can assume branding will not only evolve but surpass our wildest expectations.

The [Animated] Story Of Electronics And Consumerism

Electronics. Do people even use this word anymore? The word electronics was synonymous with Japan because pretty much everything "electronic" came from "The Land Of The Rising Sun". In less than a decade the electronics landscape has changed dramatically.

What also has changed is how we consume electronics.

I recently purchased a new Smart TV [I'll withhold the brand] and given the features, I thought since I'm "smart", why not get a "Smart TV"?

Problem solved.

Reality is the features that I have, I don't use and the features I want, don't come with this television. So have electronics really gotten better or are you being marketed that the future has arrived and getting this product will change how you live?

Maybe I should have done my homework better but the reality is, its getting harder to find good electronics that live up to older electronic standards.

To #App Or Not To App. That Is The Question...

Our [Collective] Capacity for BS Is Rapidly Diminishing

We tolerate so much BS in our daily lives.

How you manage the level of BS that comes into your life is really an indicator of how successful you really are because the more you're able to navigate through your daily BS, the more you'll be able to focus on your real objectives in life.

Finally, someone [Brad Frost] has been able to capture the irony of BS in a nice little presentation that is both humorous and insightful.

Enjoy.